Szabo takes time out

Szabo celebrates her 1,500m gold medal in Edmonton

Romania's Olympic and world champion Gabriela Szabo is to take a break from competition and will not return to the track until next year, at the earliest.

Szabo's husband, Zsolt Gyongyossy, who is also her coach, said: "Gabriela feels tired and a repeated sciatica problem has reduced her competitiveness over the past few months.

"Gabi must take a break at least until the end of the year, though it might be longer."

Following the World Championships in Edmonton, where Szabo won the 1,500m title, the Romanian said she would be taking a year out, and possibly having a baby.

Legal action

Speaking to the Reuters news agency, her husband also denied that she was worried about the possibility of being sued by controversial Russian athlete Olga Yegorova.

Yegorova was initially banned from running in Edmonton after testing positive for the blood-boosting drug erythropoietin (EPO), but was later allowed to compete on a technicality.

Last week the Russian athletics federation said they were considering taking legal action over comments Szabo and her manager made about Yegorova in Edmonton.

"Gabi made some statements about Yegorova when the Russian was banned by IAAF," Gyongyossy said.

"When she said later that she was not able to compete against robots, she was making a general reference without pointing to Russian athletes."

At first Szabo threatened to boycott the 5,000m if Yegorova was allowed to compete, but she changed her mind and ran, finishing eighth.